The Library Consortium announces the youth speed-writing contest

The Barcelona Libraries Consortium has definitively approved the regulatory bases for the third edition of the youth rapid writing contest “90 Minutes of Panic”, an initiative to promote literary creation and the pleasure of reading among adolescents and young people. The call for entries is published in the Official Gazette of the Province of Barcelona on September 7, 2026, with the official reference CVE 202610138140.

The bases were initially approved by resolution of the Management of the Barcelona Libraries Consortium on July 1, 2026, and submitted for public information for twenty business days, in accordance with article 124.2 of the Regulations on Works, Activities and Services of Local Entities (ROAS). Since no claims, allegations, or suggestions were submitted, the bases are understood to be definitively approved automatically. The document is signed by the Senior Legal Technician Alicia Zamorano Flores, by delegation on 07/12/2023.

How the contest works

The contest consists of freely writing a piece on a theme that will be indicated before starting, within a maximum period of ninety (90) minutes. Before starting the timer, the keywords that the text must mandatorily include will also be communicated, as their omission will result in the elimination of the work.

The test will take place at the El Clot – Josep Benet Library (Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes, 37) on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 11:00 AM. The texts may be written in Catalan or Spanish, by hand, and must occupy a maximum of two sides of a lined sheet provided by the organization. The jury’s verdict will be made public on Monday, November 2 via the library’s website and Instagram.

Who can participate

Adolescents and young people born between 2010 and 2013 may participate individually, in one of the following two categories:

• Category A: people born between 2010 and 2011.
• Category B: people born between 2012 and 2013.

Participants under 14 years of age and those without full legal capacity must present the authorization from Annex 1 of the bases, while minors aged 14 or older must present that of Annex 2. Registration is free and can be done in person at the library or electronically via email at b.barcelona.jb@diba.cat, from Monday, September 21 at 4:00 PM to Friday, October 16 at 8:00 PM. Spaces are limited, up to a maximum of 50 people.

Jury and prizes

The jury will consist of 3 people linked to the world of culture and its decision will be final, with the possibility of declaring the prize void if no text has the appropriate quality. The evaluation will be based on literary quality, creativity and originality, and compliance with the keywords and the maximum length.

The prizes will consist of book vouchers for each category:

• The winner will receive a book voucher valued at 100 €.
• The runner-up will receive a book voucher valued at 50 €.

The jury will select the four best entries from each category and designate the winner and the runner-up. If the winner does not come forward to collect the prize, the runner-up will take their place.

Impact for readers

This third edition consolidates a proposal that combines literary creation with the pressure of the clock, a formula designed to bring reading and writing closer to young people in a playful and participatory environment. For families and adolescents in Barcelona, the contest represents a free opportunity to showcase narrative talent and win book prizes, with an accessible format and limited spots that encourage early registration.

Source: Official Bulletin of the Province of Barcelona, no. 7-9-2026, local administration section, pp. 1-9 (official reference: CVE 202610138140).